Press Releases

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Your family will enjoy a lavish buffet complete with appetizers, entrées and desserts this Passover at Maxwell's at the Club (500 N. Kingsbury, Chicago at the East Bank Club, 312-527-5800, extension 301), 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friday, April 6.

The meal includes Kosher wine and Haggadahs will be available for each table. The cost is $45 for adults and $15 for children under 10 years. Reservations are required.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Come
hop the BunnyTrain and travel around the Chicago French Market!The train will travel around the Chicago
French Market Saturday, March 31 from 11-1:30 pm, followed by an Easter Egg Hunt at 1:30 pm.Where participants can meet a very special
guest: The Easter Bunny! The Chicago French Market will also be offering
market-wide tastings. Easter is fast approaching , so don’t miss out on
all of the Easter fun!

Saturday, March 24, 2012

With signs of Spring blooming all around Chicago,
Francesca’s Restaurants is planning for a colorful month.Celebrate Easter with family & friends
and meet the bunny himself, indulge in the decadence of Baconfest at
Francesca’s Forno or partake in Beer & Wine Dinners at select locations. Everything’s
coming up roses at Francesca’s this April!

Spring is in the air and Francesca’s Famiglia in Barrington is
hosting a fresh & inspired wine dinner event!Featuring wine selections from the vineyards
of Bethel Heights in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, this 4-course menu is only $52
per person, all inclusive! Reservations are required.

The meal
starts with Whipped Burrata, tomato and rhubarb conserva paired with a 2011 Pinot Gris. This is followed by Roasted scallops, morels, ramps, English peas and bacon. This pairs
excellently with a 2009 Chardonnay. The third
course features Handmade toasted fennel seed and goat cheese gnocchi, crispy duck, fava beans, caramelized spring onions. A 2009 Pinot Noirmakes a great pair
for this course. The evening ends with Rosemary crusted rack of spring lamb, baby carrots and roasted root vegetables. This is the
perfect companion for a 2008 Pinot Noir “Casteel Reserve”.

Uncle Sam’s annual day of reckoning is
upon us…. (drum roll please) TAX DAY.If
April 15th is a day to celebrate in your household, chances are you
are receiving a tax refund; but if you owe, the tone is surely not so
upbeat.Whether you are drowning your
sorrows or toasting to your own financial windfall, we have an event for
you.“Uncle Sam meet Auntie Vino” is a
4-course wine dinner hosted by Francesca’s
Bryn Mawr.Guest speaker, Danny Kleiman,
of Heritage Wines takes you through a guided tour of Italian wine varietals
paired with an innovative Francesca’s menu.$48 plus tax & gratuity, reservations required.

Whether
your beer of choice is a pilsner or pale ale, Lagunitas Brewery is sure to make
you a believer in their brews. Enjoy 5 beer selections expertly paired with
Francesca’s food. Tickets are $45 per person, excluding tax and gratuity.
Reservations are required.

Whether your beer of choice is a
pilsner or pale ale, Lagunitas Brewery is sure to make you a believer in their
brews.Come out on Wednesday, April 18th
and enjoy 5 beer selections paired with a menu handcrafted by Chef Sergio Lopez
of Francesca’s al Lago. Tickets are
$50 per person, excluding tax and gratuity. Reservations are required and sure
to sell out quickly.

The Easter bunny will be visiting Francesca's Tavola from 9:00 a.m. –
11:00 a.m. on the two Saturday’s leading up to Easter (March 31st and April 7th).Activities for the kids include coloring
contests and Easter egg hunts.Parents
bring your camera and snap a shot of your little ones visiting with the bunny
himself.Italian breakfast menu
available throughout; reservations required for this sell-out event.

On Easter
Sunday, a lavish brunch buffet at Francesca’s
Tavola features a prime rib carving station, made to order omelets, whole
roasted salmon, eggs, bacon, sausage, homemade pastries, salads, pastas, chicken
and much more from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.($24.95 for adults, $12.95 for ages 2-12 and no-charge for children
under 2).Standard Francesca’s ala carte
menu from 2:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. for dinner service.

Bring the family out to Francesca’s Fortunato in Frankfort for
a traditional Italian brunch featuring frittatas, omelets and French toast in
addition to many of your Francesca’s favorites. The restaurant will be open
from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. with a visit from the Easter Bunny from noon to 3:00
p.m. Brunch specialties available through 3:00 p.m.

Lunch with
the Easter Bunny at Francesca’s Bellezza on Saturday, April 7th noon
to 3pm!Make a reservation for you &
the kids to dine with Peter Rabbit himself.Kids will enjoy a pint-sized buffet complete with pasta, pizza and
chicken fingers while their parents can order ala carte from the traditional
Francesca’s menu. The price of $8.99 per
child includes lunch, beverage, Easter egg hunt, goody bag and a picture with
the hoppin’ hare. Space is limited - reserve your table today.

Sit back,
relax & unwind with friends at Francesca’s
Bellezza every Thursday 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. & Friday night from 6:00 to
9:00 p.m. Live jazz, a glass of wine & a bite to eat will make the
hustle-bustle of your work week seem like a distant memory.Seats are first come, first serve and there
is never a cover charge, so arrive early!

Fasten your seatbelts for a guided musical tour through rock 'n roll
history with The Neverly Brothers at Francesca’s
Vicinato. Live for one night only at Francesca’s
Vicinato in Palos Park, mark your calendar for this can’t-miss,
toe-tapping, sing-out-loud event on Friday, April 27th.The restaurant recommends that diners make dinner reservations
between 7 and 7:30 p.m. After enjoying a delicious meal, diners may keep their
tables for the show. After 8 p.m. the restaurant will offer general seating. For more information on The Neverly Brothers,
visit their website at www.theneverlybrothers.com.

Francesca’s Restaurants celebrates the Day of the Mushroom, April 16th
at all Chicagoland locations

Button, shiitake, oyster, wild, portobello,
cremini, enoki, beech… with so many mushroom varieties to choose from how will
you select just one to top your list
for National Mushroom Day on Monday, April 16th?Celebrate the day of the mushroom with
Francesca’s Restaurants and we’ll point you in the right direction with the Pasta Funghetto. Featuring the porcini
and wild mushrooms, tossed with perfectly al dente pasta, mascarpone cheese,
white truffle oil, fresh oregano and brandy-veal sauce to create a rich,
decadent pasta dish that will make you a believer.Available for $10.99 at all Francesca’s restaurant
locations for lunch & dinner on Monday,
April 16th.

Support your community – Come out & get involved!

You can
support your community simply by eating at Francesca’s. When you dine at any
Francesca’s restaurant during their Eat and Earn promotion, a portion of
your bill is donated to a charitable organization in the community.

Thursday, April 5, Francesca’s Tavola (208 S Arlington
Heights Rd., Arlington Heights, IL 60005; 847-394-3950) is hosting an Eat and
Earn program to benefit Hersey Jazz Band. For more information on the Hersey Jazz Band,
visit www.herseyband.com. They are also hosting an Eat and Earn
program April 17 supporting Wright-Way
Rescue Pet adoption Center. For more information on the Rescue Center,
visit www.wrightwayrescue.net.

Francesca’s on Bryn Mawr (1039 W Bryn Mawr, Chicago, IL 60660;
773-506-9261) is supporting Edgewater
Historical Society by hosting an Eat & Earn on Wednesday, April 11. For
more information, visit www.edgewaterhistory.org. Emmaus Ministries on Thursday, April 12. For more
information about the organization, visit www.streets.organd Care for Real – local food pantry, on
Wednesday, April 25. More information about Care for Real can be found at www.careforreal.org.

Monday, April
16, Francesca’s on 95th (6248 W. 95th
Street, Oak Lawn, IL 60453; 708-598-7007) is teaming up with Sons of Italy organization to raise
money for children with autism. For more information, visit www.osia.org.

Francesca’s
Passaggio (3124 South Route 59, Naperville, IL 60564; 630-946-0600) & La Sorella di Francesca (18 West
Jefferson Avenue, Naperville, IL 60540; 630-961-2706) are supporting Dine-Away Hunger Foundation on
Wednesday, April 18. La Sorella also is hosting an Eat and Earn for Naperville Responds for our Veterans on
Wednesday, April 11. The organization
assists veterans in need by raising donations of money, building materials and
professional labor and coordinates the process of repairing, building and
donating homes. For more information about the organization, visit www.nrfov.org.

Wednesday,
April 18, all Francesca’s locations are participating in an Eat and Earn promotion to benefit Variety Children’s Charity, a non-profit
organization that is dedicated to promoting and protecting the
health and well-being of children around the world. Variety of Illinois
supports children with disabilities, as well as those who are underprivileged,
or otherwise at-risk. To learn more
about this organization, please visit www.varietyofillinois.org.

Thursday, April 26, Mia Francesca, Francesca’s Forno, Francesca’s on Chestnut, Francesca’s Taylor &
Francesca’s Bryn Mawr join together
with nearly 75 other Chicago institutions in support of the city’s Dine Out for
Life campaign.In its 19th
year, Dine Out for Life’s mission is to provide housing and life services to
men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS.Help us make a difference in these people’s lives by dining out on April
26th; a portion of all lunch, dinner & carry-out sales will be
donated to this great cause.

Charities interested in learning more about Francesca’s
Restaurants Eat and Earn restaurant
should contact the manager of their local Francesca’s.

Thursday, April 26, Francesca’s
Famiglia (100 East Station Street, Barrington, IL 60010; 847-277-1027) is
one of the local businesses in Barrington participating in a Relay for Life
kickoff party for Purple Heels Sip and Shop event. Francesca’s will be offering
complimentary Limoncello to diners that mention the charity.

Bacon Makes Everything Better… Baconfest & Francesca’s Forno!

Chicago’s hottest
ticket in town is Baconfest on April 14th.If you weren’t lucky enough to snag a ticket
(they’ve been sold out for weeks), get in on the fun at Francesca’s Forno.In conjunction with the event, they’ll be
featuring their Baconfest creation in-house for restaurant guests on Saturday,
April 14th… Yes, the same creation to which only Baconfest ticket
holders are privy.Get your bacon-fix at
Francesca’s Forno!

The Menu at Di Sotto Enoteca expands to include Desserts

Reeling from a nomination by Time Out
Chicago for “Best New Bar in 2012”, Di Sotto Enoteca steps up their game and
adds gourmet Italian desserts and premium Intelligentsia coffee to their
already well-respected small plates menu.Dessert selections include handmade truffles, lemon-ricotta fritters and
zeppoles. These light and doughy Italian doughnuts are filled with decadent
cheesecake or dark chocolate. Served alongside French press Intelligentsia coffee
and “black cat” espresso, the desserts at Di Sotto Enoteca make the perfect
after dinner treat.Check out the full
menu at www.disottoenoteca.com & indulge your sweet side with a visit.

Call it a Hallmark holiday if you
will, but Administrative Assistants Day honors a talented group of people that
keep the wheels turning in any company.Show the Admin in your department how grateful you are for their support
with a special meal at Francesca’s Restaurants.On Wednesday, April 25th all Francesca’s locations are open
for lunch service (with the exception of Mia Francesca, Chicago) and taking
reservations. Can’t get out – show your thanks with the gift from Francesca’s –
gift cards available to purchase in-store or online at www.miafrancesca.com.

Francesca’s
Tavola (208 S. Arlington Heights Rd., Arlington
Heights, IL 60005; 847-394-3950) will be offering a lunch special. Guests can
choose a two - course meal (appetizer, soup or salad and pasta, sandwich or
entree) with a soft drink or iced tea for $10.00 or a three - course meal
(appetizer, soup or salad and pasta, sandwich or entree, and a dessert), with a
soft drink or iced tea for $15.00.

Francesca’s
on 95th ( 6248 W. 95th Street, Oak
Lawn, IL 60453; 708-598-7007) Are you a boss treating your admin to lunch or
dinner? Bring them to Francesca’s on 95th and you will receive 15%
off your bill.

Have you been bit by the Davanti bug? The
hottest destination in Chicago’s Little Italy neighborhood just got hotter (or
spicier) with the addition of a build-your-own Bloody Mary bar for Saturday
& Sunday brunch.You can choose from
10-15 different hot sauces, various pickled veggies such as cucumbers, carrots,
white asparagus, green beans, cauliflower and of course the classic garnishes
like limes, olives or celery. Sundays are “Sinful Sundays” you can enjoy this classic
brunch beverage, made just as you like it for only $5. Brunch is served every
weekend from 11a.m. to 3 p.m.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

March 20 is one of
Francesca’s Restaurants’ favorite holidays: National Ravioli Day. To celebrate,
all Francesca’s locations* are offering Ravioli con Spinaci for $8.99.
This delicious stuffed pasta is one of the world's favorites. What better place to celebrate than Francesca’s?

Skokie, IL
March 12, 2012 - Tangerine
is making a splash as this spring’s statement color and with so many
contemporary retailers at Westfield Old Orchard (Skokie
Blvd & Old Orchard Center, Skokie, IL 60077,
847-673-6800), finding the best way to incorporate it
into your closet should be a breeze.The
pop of color is showing up in wardrobes across the board with everything from
hats, shoes and handbags, to shorts, tops and even make-up sporting the
sensational hue. “Go bold with a sundress and subtle with jewelry in a tangerine
hue to offset any neutral,” says Shannon Ridgewood, Director of Marketing at
Westfield Old Orchard. Stop into hip and trendy retailers like Guess, Zara, and
Akira to test the waters in tangerine.

Prints can be subtle or turn heads, which makes it fairly easy to
dabble in this spring trend.Florals,
animal prints, geometrics, and stripes will be seen in both big and bold and
smaller varieties and everything in between.The key to pulling off the perfect print?Stick to simple silhouettes and let the print
do the talking! Don’t forget to accessorize with bright solid color or neutral
accessories.Eclectic Westfield
retailers Anthropologie and Francesca’s Collections offer options for everyone
from the fashion cautious to the fashion daring.

The vintage look of peplum is making a modern debut.A subtle flounce around the waist of a skirt,
jacket or top adds an instant touch of femininity and grace.Ridgeway agrees, “Paired with classic
accessories like a subtle string of pearls and ballet flats, you’ll feel
classically chic!” Westfield retailers
like Ann Taylor and Banana Republic offer classic and timeless silhouettes
without lacking in this new and fun spring trend.

Spring accessories
are packing a punch with wedges, platforms and chunky heels, adorned handbags,
and statement jewelry staying strong.The best thing about accessories:there is a way to work any piece into your daily wardrobe rotation!Accessories on any budget are available at
Westfield with luxury jewelry retailer Tiffany & Co. for the lavish
accessorizer or specialty stores like Aldo, Sunglass Hut and Claire’s for the
more frugal shopper.

With spring comes
softer color palettes and pastels are showing up all over.These softer tints are fun, feminine and
simple to pair with neutral colors. Play
up your black skinny jeans by adding a touch of femininity with a soft pink
silk camisole.A flirty look that can
take you from day to evening! “Adding a few pastel basics into a wardrobe for
spring is a must and Westfield Old Orchard retailers like United Colors of
Benetton and J.Crew offer great selections!” says Ridgeway.Come and see all the great spring trend
options are available at Westfield.

Westfield Old Orchard parties for a good cause

Prom is the time to
party at Westfield Old Orchard!This year,
for the first time, Westfield is working with The Glass Slipper Project in
collecting new and lightly used prom dresses, accessories and beauty products
to provide to area teens in need.Bring
your donations to the Westfield Old Orchard Concierge Center located in the
service collection next to Helzberg Diamonds. Donations Days run March 19-24.

March 24 also kicks
off a series of prom-themed events starting with the “Pre-prom party” held in
the Westfield Old Orchard Serpent Play area. Shoppers will have the chance to
party it up before prom night with fun, music and activities.Creating the perfect “prom night” ambience, a
local DJ will be spinning the latest dance tunes all afternoon and refreshments
supplied by participating Westfield retailers will be available to enjoy.Also adding to the fun, a “candy bar” of
sweet treats and an interactive step and repeat with amusing and engaging props
that will have shoppers striking their best prom pose.

Annual
family Easter Egg Hunt

Westfield Old Orchard is providing Easter fun for North Shore and
surrounding area families. April 7 marks its annual Easter Egg Hunt!Starting at 10:30 am families can bring their
kids ages 2-5 to register for the Easter themed event.Kids will covet the Golden Eggs filled with
prizes from Westfield retailers and scurry around the Serpent Play area looking
for their next prize.Participating kids
will enjoy a day of face painting and take home a piece of balloon art.New York Life will be partnering with
Westfield by providing complimentary Child ID’s (name, picture and finger
print) for parents to take home.Registration is complimentary and open to the first 150 families who
arrive. The Easter Egg Hunt will commence 11:30 am in the Westfield Old Orchard’s
Serpent Play area with fun activities to follow.

About Westfield Old
OrchardWestfield Old Orchard
is conveniently located in Skokie, Illinois at the intersection of Skokie
Boulevard and Old Orchard Road.The
center is home to Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom Lord & Taylor and Macy’s, along
with 140 specialty shops, restaurants and cinemas.The center abounds with fantastic choices
including Anthropologie, Crate & Barrel, L.L. Bean, Tiffany & Co.,
William Sonoma and Zara to name a few.Dining options include California Pizza Kitchen, The Cheesecake Factory,
Maggiano’s Little Italy, McCormick & Schmick’s, Wilde & Greene, as well
as fast casual options including Johnny Rocket’s, The Corner Bakery, Potbelly
Sandwich Works and more.For more
information call 847.673.6800 or visit http://www.westfield.com/oldorchard

Did you know you can support your community simply
by eating at Francesca’s? When you dine at any Francesca’s restaurant during
their Eat and Earn promotion, a
portion of your bill is donated to a charitable organization in the community.

This Tuesday, March 20, all Francesca’s locations are
participating in an Eat and Earn
promotion to benefit Lambs Farm, a
non-profit organization that helps people with developmental disabilities lead
productive and happy lives. When people dine at Francesca’s and either bring in
the Eat and Earn flyer about the
event or mention Lambs Farm, 15% of
the bill will be donated to the organization. For more information on Lambs Farm, visit www.lambsfarm.org. Enjoy a great meal and support a worthy cause by eating at Francesca's today!

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